LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City

HOSAB, Episode 23: Mayor McCheese, if you please!

Hosts: Natalie Jean & Jackie Zebrowski
Date: November 11, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode picks up the deep dive into House of Sky and Breath (HOSAB), focusing on the chaotic infiltration of Idra Island and the fallout as Bryce, Hunt, Rune, and friends attempt to halt the distribution of deadly mech suits. The hosts blend detailed plot breakdowns, irreverent humor, and wild digressions (notably, a lengthy riff about McDonaldland characters) while covering pivotal moments including Pippa’s villainy, high-stakes sabotage, and the group's narrow escape via the Ocean Queen’s submarine.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Immersive Roleplay and Banter (02:41–08:26)

• Natalie and Jackie open the content with energetic, cosplay-style banter, joking about mech suits, robot personas, “monster fucker” preferences, and improv fighting with lightning and knives.
• Notable quote:
  “I think it's good to keep everybody feeling threatened throughout an episode.”
  — Natalie Jean (03:28)
• Good-humored speculation about Mormon robots, queer wrestling archetypes, and the economics of crafting costume wings.

2. Plot Recap – Idra Island Infiltration (09:31–17:53)

• The team covers Hunt, Bryce, Rune, and Cormac’s cautious teleportation onto Idra Island, noting Cormac’s physical toll during multi-step teleportation and the strain of magical travel (10:08–10:55).
• Cormac, drained from repeated “lily pad” jumps, pushes the group into position to witness the rebel group Ophion unloading stolen mech suits (11:14–11:39).
• Introduction of Pippa Spetsos as the new, ruthless leader orchestrating the mech suit trade—quickly recognized as a dangerous wildcard in the resistance.
• Quote:
  "Anyone that wants that amount of power is probably... probably bad."
  — Adam, on the nature of warmongers, Pippa, and fast food mayors (17:56)

3. McDonaldland Tangent & Mayor McCheese (12:27–14:46)

• Natalie and Jackie launch into a spirited aside dissecting the McDonaldland characters, pondering which is most “f***able,” and correcting the confusion between Hamburglar and Mayor McCheese.
• Quote:
  “Come and check. Fucking throw. Thank you, Mayor McCheese. And I'd say Mayor Mc. Squeeze me on that dick.”
  — Adam (14:19)
• Tangent underscores the podcast’s trademark mix of pop culture chaos and book analysis.

4. Tension Among the Rebels (19:01–22:41)

• Cormac imparts bad news: they can’t isolate or question Pippa without arousing suspicion; she’s both paranoid and increasingly despotic (19:01–21:52).
• Pippa’s chilling logic—her readiness to deploy bioweapons, indifference to innocent casualties, and suspicion of everyone.
• Quote:
  “You're too coiled up in your own snake's nest to see the truth. Or to see who among you has a forked tongue.”
  — Pippa (24:33)
• The hosts highlight the “snake in the grass” line as a marker for internal betrayal and simmering distrust.

5. Discovery and Destruction of the Bioweapon Suits (25:13–34:04)

• Hunt identifies the new suits as housing Gorzian stone, allowing them to siphon magic from ley lines and create mass destruction (26:06–27:13).
• Quote:
  “This tech will clearly just kill infinite people… It’s not a war weapon …this is just pure rage and hate.”
  — Bryce’s (via narration) reaction (27:13)
• The group realizes Pippa plans to massacre both humans and veneer; she executes allied rebels to clean up loose ends (30:18–32:13).
• Bryce, Hunt, and Therian make a desperate pact: the suits can’t be left with Lightfall/Ophion.
• Hunt “lights up” the suits with lightning, destroying the tech as the squad flees (34:04).

6. Action Sequence: Escape & Betrayal (36:15–44:51)

• Hunt and Therian eliminate the bioweapon threat, blowing up vehicles and weapon stockpiles with lightning and water magic (36:15–38:21).
• Cormac is shot with a Gorzian bullet, leaving him unable to teleport the group out (40:18–41:08).
• Bryce suppresses her disgust with the rebels; emotional conflict flares between Cormac and the others regarding loyalties and consequences (41:44–42:07).
• The gang flees by boat, Bryce using her magic to blind pursuers, while Hunt keeps his guard up (43:01).
• Quote:
  "He knew that dog…that particular shade of black, like the wings it bore in its other form. The hound ran along the cliffs barking."
  — Natalie Jean, narrating as Hunt spots Baxian (43:17)

7. Narrow Escapes & Arrival of the Hind (44:53–52:48)

• Cormac’s inability to teleport forces the group to try water escape, only to be met by the Triarii (the Asteri’s elite), including the Hind (48:11–51:22).
• Intense stand-off as Hunt’s powers build to uncontrollable levels—risking electrocution of everyone in the water (52:03).
• The Hind produces a white stone, confirming Sophie’s death to Cormac’s devastation (53:56–54:09).

8. Deus ex Submarine: Rescue by the Ocean Queen (57:52–64:53)

• As the group is cornered and Hunt is about to lose control, a massive submarine (“Depth Charger”) surfaces beneath them, offering mysterious rescue (57:52–59:50).
• A mer-woman, Commander Sendes, welcomes them, stating they were guided to Bryce’s starlight by their ship’s Oracle (60:36–61:19).
• Quote:
  “Welcome to the Depth Charger, one of the six city ships of the Ocean Queen's court beneath.”
  — Commander Sendes (63:49)
• The group realizes they're now sheltering aboard a colossal undersea craft allied with the Ocean Queen—questioning whether they are guests, allies, or hostages.

9. Character Relationships & Mating Revelation (61:19–63:10)

• Rune reveals to Bryce that Hunt’s lightning-fueled ferocity is “mate rage”; their scents have “merged,” confirming Fae-style mateship (61:44–62:11).
• Natalie and Jackie relish the drama, humorously commenting on “fuck-joined” siblings and the soapiness of the big emotional reveal.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Pippa’s Ruthlessness:
  "She just committed a bunch of murders… Straight up. Even if there's a justification—they call it 'war' or whatever—those were allies."
  — Natalie (31:02)
• On Hunt’s Lightning Rage:
  "I'm lightning. I'm all lightning."
  — Adam (34:55)
  "He'd fry every single one of them if it meant getting Bryce out alive."
  — Rune's POV, read by Natalie (56:18)
• On Hostage Status:
  "Frankly, I don't know who they wouldn’t be hostages for at this point. Everybody hates enemy number one over here."
  — Natalie (59:04)
• On Ship's Arrival:
  "A squid as large as the Commidium, and made of glass and matte metal for stealth… Welcome to the Depth Charger…”
  — Commander Sendes (63:40–63:49)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:41–06:12 | Opening banter, roleplay, and setting the meta tone | | 09:31–10:55 | Teleportation into Idra Island, limitations on magic | | 12:27–14:46 | McDonaldland tangent—Mayor McCheese & Hamburglar discourse | | 19:01–21:52 | Cormac’s report: Pippa’s takeover & rebel group paranoia | | 25:13–27:13 | Discovery of Gorzian mech suits, implications for war | | 30:18–32:13 | Pippa executes rebel "allies"; hosts discuss morality | | 34:04–36:38 | Hunt and Therian destroy the suits, initiating escape | | 40:18–41:08 | Cormac shot with Gorzian bullet, further imperiling escape plans | | 43:17–44:04 | Spotting Baxian, the black dog—foreshadowing and shifting loyalties | | 48:11–52:48 | Hind’s arrival, tension in water, Hunt's powers spiraling | | 53:56–54:09 | The Hind reveals Sophie’s death to Cormac | | 57:52–63:49 | Rescue by mer-ship, introduction of Commander Sendes, mate revelation, new ship setting |

Tone & Style

The conversation is a comedic mix of fangirl glee, irreverent pop culture asides, and genuine engagement with Sarah J. Maas’s narrative. The hosts are playful, snarky, and emotionally invested, not afraid to draw bawdy or absurd parallels ("Mayor McCheese" as a satirical archetype for power-mad leaders; monster-fucking jokes juxtaposed with tragic plot moments). They cite in-world logic, speculate about character choices, and break for meta-commentary at will.

Final Thoughts

Episode 23 is a dense recap and analysis loaded with major plot developments, dark humor, and character insight. The group’s moral quandaries grow starker in the face of escalating violence and betrayal—especially with Pippa’s heel turn and the chilling use of ancient power for war. The closing arrival of the Ocean Queen’s “Depth Charger” submarine brings some hope (and a new set of mysteries), as well as the major relationship revelation about Hunt and Bryce’s Fae “mating bond.”

Listeners are left poised as the gang, once again fugitives, must reckon with new potential allies or jailers—and whatever underwater machinations the Ocean Queen’s court may hold.

Next Reading Assignment:
Read up to Chapter 47 for the next episode!